Toyota Recalls 261,000 Trucks and S.U.V.’s for Traction Control Malfunction

Image

The 2012 Toyota Tacoma.CreditToyota Motor Sales

By Christopher Jensen

Feb. 14, 2014

Toyota is recalling about 261,000 pickups and sport utility vehicles because several electronic safety systems could be disabled, according to a report the automaker posted on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website.

The vehicles affected by the recall are the 2012-13 Lexus RX 350, the 2012 Toyota RAV4 and the 2012-13 Toyota Tacoma. Toyota attributed the problem to a “manufacturing variation” for an electrical terminal, which it said would shut off the antilock brakes, traction control and electronic stability control, which work together to correct vehicles during skids. Loss of those functions could reduce “directional control assistance” and increase the risk of a crash, the report said.

Toyota told the safety agency that it received the first of a series of complaints in July 2012 and began investigating. It found that “in most cases” the system would work again if the vehicle was turned off and restarted. But the automaker had trouble finding the source of the problem.

However, Toyota did conclude that the problem was only occurring on parts made by a supplier in Ohio, so in December 2012, Toyota dropped the American supplier and began using a Japanese-made part. It wasn’t clear why the automaker did not recall vehicles at that time, and a Toyota spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment.

In a news release, Toyota said it was not aware of any injuries or accidents related to the problem. The automaker described the recall as voluntary, but once an automaker is aware of a safety problem it must – within five business days – inform N.H.T.S.A. of its plans for a recall or face a civil fine.

In other actions:

■ N.H.T.S.A. closed an investigation into a stalling problem on about 154,000 Chrysler and Dodge cars equipped with 5.7- and 6.1-liter V8 engines, saying a recall is not necessary, according to a report posted on the agency’s website. The agency began the investigation into 2005-6 Chrysler 300s, Dodge Magnums and Dodge Chargers after receiving complaints from owners about stalling when stopped or at low speeds immediately after the vehicles were fueled. The vehicles could, however, be restarted immediately.

The agency concluded that the problem was a fuel shutoff float in the gas tank and that no recall was necessary because there was a “low risk to motor vehicle safety.” For its part, Chrysler will provide a “lifetime” extended warranty on the gas tank, which covers any owner “for as long as the vehicle is on the road,” Eric Mayne, a spokesman for Chrysler, wrote in an email.

■ The agency has opened an investigation into the loss of power brake assist on 2010-11 Mazda CX-9 crossovers. The investigation covers about 62,000 vehicles, according to a report posted on the agency’s website. N.H.T.S.A. reported that it had received seven complaints from owners who said the brake pedal was “suddenly feeling hard, requiring increased effort to stop the vehicle.” There were no reports of accidents.